Calgary Stampeders quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell throws the ball during first half CFL football action against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Calgary, Saturday, June 16, 2018. Mitchell and the Stampeders are among the many teams dealing with quarterback injuries. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Zach Collaros is on concussion watch, Travis Lulay was hit under the chin with a helmet (no penalty called by a referee no more than a couple of metres away from him), Bo Levi Mitchell wears a brace. Matt Nichols was hurt during the pre-season. Since his return to the Bombers, he seems skittish, anxious to avoid a hit even if it means recklessly throwing the ball away. How Eskimo quarterback Mike Reilly stays in one piece is beyond me.
Then we have the passers’ favourite targets. Gone for the season in Calgary are Eric Rogers and the CFL’s August top player Kamar Jorden. Ti-Cats Chris Williams and Jalen Saunders are on the six-game injury list. B.C. Lion Manny Arceneaux is gone for the season, Eskimo Derel Walker is out six to eight weeks. Winnipeg’s Weston Dressler and Alouette Chris Harper have missed several games. Only Ottawa and Toronto have been spared.
I noticed some time ago that many players seem to have no padding on their knees. Considering how many careers have been cut short by knee injuries, I wondered if lack of protection was a factor. Who better to ask than George Hopkins, the Calgary Stampeders equipment manager for the last 47 years.
“Three years ago the league mandated knee protection,” he explained. “Guys were throwing the pads away and not wearing anything. Now the pad covers the patella (kneecap). It is a very light weight strong fabric not like the bulky ones from years ago.”
Does the spate of injuries sustained by receivers have anything to do with padding? “Nothing at all. Our guy, Kamar Jorden twisted his knee while trying to make a block.” What about protection from abrasions? At one time by Thanksgiving, most grass fields were like cement and the pads gave some protection from knee scrapes.
Said George, “Even the old AstroTurf used to freeze in the fall and was hard as could be. Now the artificial turf stays soft to about -30 C. Knee and thigh pads help prevent bruises and abrasions but that’s about all.”
Serious injuries can be the result of several situations. John Hufnagel’s career ended when his foot caught in a seam on the Taylor Field turf. His body went one way, his foot stayed put. Over the years many players have told me the most dangerous situation is a pileup, such as the one that ended Jorden’s season.
Hall of fame linebacker Ben Zambiasi told me rookies trying to make a name for themselves by taking his knee out was a danger. He added that players around the league soon ran one such malfeasant out. You don’t see that kind of respect for other players as much today.
Fear of lawsuits seems to deter CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie from flat-out admitting serious brain damage can be caused by football hits to the head. Still, the league is stressing safety and doing everything they can to protect players and discourage dirty football.
Ottawa Redblacks linebacker Kyries Hebert was recently suspended two games for hitting Montreal receiver B.J. Cunningham on the side of the head in a reckless manner Aug. 31.
He was suspended after the June 28 game in Calgary for an illegal hit on DaVaris Daniels. On Oct. 15, 2015, I happened to have my binoculars on Stampeder great Jon Cornish as Hebert leapt at him, spearing him in the head with his helmet, causing a severe concussion from which he never recovered.
After the latest incident, Redblacks general manager Marcel DesLaurier defended his player while head coach Rick Campbell was quoted in the Ottawa Citizen as saying, “I’m going to stay out of that.”
After crushing Daniels, Hebert said in part, “I’ve had over 800 career tackles and I’ve been in trouble five times maybe…” He vowed he wasn’t going to change his style of play.
Can the new helmets make a difference? Don’t depend on it, said Hopkins. “There are three manufacturers and they are trying all the time to make their helmets better. But no helmet can prevent concussions.” You’d have to immobilize the head so the brain doesn’t hit the skull.
While players are bigger and faster, they’ve been coached since peewee to lead with their helmets. When coaches change their approach, the game will be safer.
Graham Kelly has covered the CFL for the Medicine Hat News for 46 years. Feedback for this column can be emailed to sports@medicinehatnews.com.
